Don't expect anything from Coalition 2.0 – for the moment at least

The Government may be in disarray adjusting to political realities, but behind the scenes the work goes on. This week – forgot to ask precisely when – Oliver Letwin and Danny Alexander will meet for the latest in the Coalition 2.0 series. You might think that after the May results, and given the general climate of daily retreat, that such an exercise would be pointless, a bit like those endless rounds of arms control talks in Geneva. But, strangely enough, there seems to be a bit of enthusiasm behind them. Not only are there some ideas kicking around for how the Coalition might present itself on the downward glidepath to 2015 – there's talk of getting back to the core value of government in the national interest – but I gather Andrew Cooper and Richard Reeves have got involved on behalf of their respective principals. Some might see it as little more than clinging to the liferaft in a turbulent sea – better to be hanged together than separately. But there is also a clear sense of purpose, that despite the current difficulties the main goals of the Coalition – deficit reduction, schools reform, welfare reform – the programme is still on track. It should be pointed out however that Coalition 2.0 has a way to run yet. We shouldn't expect anything from this process this side of the Olympics. But the talks on how to keep this show on the road, and then disengage themselves in time for the election, continue.